MMORPG: The Elementalist

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

After he was able to fool the vampires and Skeleton Dragons, Qin Ruo was now more confident than ever. He had tried disguising as every single monster he had seen in both Mythical and Mystical Continents. He even tried to mimic some of the human players that he met before too—Brother Da, Slayer's Heart… aside from disguising as a female, he could disguise as anyone he wished. And their magic and melee attacks could also be disguised too. Even though the "physical attacks" had the exact same data as his water element magic. they were not exactly the same physical attacks.

After he had plenty of fun, Qin Ruo glided back to Camp Edgar.

"Boss Qin?"

Windy Groan rushed to the camp's outskirt as soon as he got the news. He was eager for his return and was anxiously waiting in the campsite all day. As he saw Qin Ruo's beaming face, Windy Groan could not help but feel a rush of excitement.

"It's done?"

Qin Ruo nodded. "Yes. Finally I've defeated the Heaven Peal Lion. The quest was cleared and now this ring has unlocked the attribute we needed… but…"

Qin Ruo paused momentarily and then continued, "…but I cannot bring you back with me. I'm sorry."

"It's alright. I was following up with whatever that was happening too. I understand. There's no way I can tag along." Even though his voice sounded calm, his eyes filled up with sadness. Then, he continued, "Boss Qin, may I ask you a favor?"

"Certainly."

Windy Groan took off a Gold quality arm guard from his wrist and presented it to Qin Ruo. "Could you take this to a friend of mine?"

Qin Ruo understood what he was doing. He pushed the arm guard back to Windy Groan, "No. You need this to survive in the Underworld. I understand. You're hoping for your friend to sell it for real-world cash, right? I have a better idea. Tell me who this friend of yours is and I'll bring some equipment over. Just treat it as my thanks for telling me the location of the warp portal and also your share for our efforts in slaying the Heaven Peal Lion. It's settled then. No… no 'buts'… and take these."

After not allowing Windy Groan to reject his offers, Qin Ruo took twenty Level 50 - 65 Spectral Mana Cores and three Movement Speed Potions from his backpack and gave them to him.

"Look, you'll be on your own in the next few days. You'll need these Mana Cores and potions. Familiarize yourself with the surroundings in the Underworld. After I've returned, we can then work together again."

Windy Groan looked at the items in his hands and raised his head to look at Qin Ruo's encouraging eyes. He then nodded. "Boss Qin, don't worry. I'll keep playing. I'll wait for your return, boss. And then, may I join Fallen Angels?"

As he looked at the Bandit's earnest eyes, Qin Ruo gave him his word, "Of course. So, what's your friend's name?"

"Codlike."

Windy Groan wrote the name of his friend on the ground with his finger.

"Got it. Now… Windy Groan, I'll hand it to her through someone else as this would reveal to the world that I have left the Underworld… You… you understand what I mean?"

Windy Groan paused momentarily then understood Qin Ruo's plan. "Yes, of course. I'll also keep my mouth zipped and not tell anyone about your departure from the Underworld."

Even though he did not understand why Qin Ruo wanted to keep this a secret—if Qin Ruo appeared in Buried City many players would immediately recognize him anyway, Windy Groan believed that Qin Ruo must have a reason for this.

After they chatted for a while, Qin Ruo then departed to the Spectral Internment Camp.

And it was as he thought. After he turned himself into a vampire and paid extra attention to evade the Liches and Bosses, he was able to bypass all the Undead horde and step onto the warp portal safe and sound.

And as the light at the Warp Portal shone on the "lone vampire", the "vampire" suddenly morphed into a Lich before vanishing in front of the Undead horde.

***

"Fuck!"

"Lich!! It's a Lich!!!!"

"Runnnnn!!!!"

As expected, his clever disguise had helped him save some really huge trouble…

As he appeared in one of the "civilian houses" in the Buried City, his Elemental Perception was able to detect a player who was fighting off the Undead at the entrance of the house. Qin Ruo was anxiously staring at the shaken Tier 4 player.

He intended this as an undercover operation.

If this player suddenly hurled a skill at him, it would blow his cover. Luckily, after recovering from his shock, the player immediately scrambled out of the door and called out to his teammates for help.

As he saw the player fleeing away, Qin Ruo sighed in relief and then changed his appearance again. This time, he disguised himself as a winged Berserker with a full set of dark gold equipment. And he left the crest of the Fallen Angels on his chest.

As he shape-shifted into a player, the Undead in the house started to turn their attention toward him. However, as they were about to leap onto him, Qin Ruo had already fled onto the street behind the house using his Liquid Form skill.

There were also another group of players fighting several Specters in that area too. And as soon as Qin Ruo showed up with his Angelic Wings, the Undead from within the several hundred radius meters in the area were immediately kicked into an uproar! They all stormed out of their "houses" without needing the players to lure them out.

"…"

The players who saw the sudden appearance of a Winged Champion were also surprised. However, they appeared to have gotten used to this sort of uproar from the Undead. All they did was shout "Fuck!" and holding off the horde with their teammates—like this was just another day-to-day thing.

"Hold it. Don't you move away from that position, Warriors!"

"Elementalists! The heck are you doing? Charge!"

Qin Ruo was hoping to aid them but it would seem that these players were already used to doing these—in fact, they could handle themselves just fine. Therefore, he forfeited the idea and flew up into the sky.

After half a minute, in the street behind them, a Tier 5 Elementalist was beating at the warrior who "saw a Lich in the house" earlier…

"Lich!"

"Where's the Lich, huh? Has it gone to your balls? Perhaps I'll kick it out for you? Huh?"

Then another round of beatings rained down on the poor warrior.

"You almost made us lose this leveling spot, you lying piece of shit!"

"Ouch! Ohhh, Ouch!! Please! Believe me! I did see it!! It was just right here…"

"Wow… you're still going for the same prank, are you? Everyone, let's beat the shit outta him!"

"Aaahhhhh!!!"

Then, the poor Warrior was beaten to a pulp for "lying about seeing a Lich". It took years for him to finally clear his name…

***

In the meantime, Netherspirit's Claw veterans had been scratching their heads at how unresponsive Fallen Angels and Violent Army Clan were at their taunts and provocations.

"Fallen Angels and Violent Army Clan knew about what's going on in the Underworld. Now, they must have received words from Qin Ruo or else they can't be responding that fast."

"But..!! They're overly unresponsive! Like a turtle hiding in its shell! The Order of Eight Gods and Holy Clan could not come up with any excuse to pick a fight with them, at all! Yesterday, we even leaked out information about a lone Lich, hoping for them to fight with us over the Lich. Yet, when they saw us, they immediately turned away. Just like that! Fuck! This ain't like them. I fear if this goes on, Fallen Angels would castrate themselves before we even pull our knives on them!"

Dark Dragon's words immediately attracted Netherclaw's criticism. "Then, it's all the better for us. It would be better if Fallen Angels and the Winter Demon are not able to recover from this Underworld thing… Dark Dragon, I warned you about taking out on these two clans. Majestic Hero and Black God had announced to the world that Qin Ruo is now trapped in Underworld due to them asking him to venture down there. Don't cause any trouble."

Although Qin Ruo did humiliate Netherclaw before, he was not like the short-tempered Dark Dragon. He knew that a devastating civil war would have sparked within the Angel Faction if he picked fights with the Fallen Angels.

Everyone knew Netherspirit's Claw had been trying to get back at the Fallen Angels. It was an undisclosed secret amongst the Angel Faction players.

If he so much as to just lay a finger on the Fallen Angels and Violent Army Clan, Hall of Heroes, Black Prison, Bauhinia Clan would all come running with their weapons aiming at his throat—causing chaos in the Angel Faction.

Netherclaw would not allow his clan to suffer such a rift and lose its chance to become the emperor player in the Angel Faction just for a small personal grudge.

As Dark Dragon started to quiet down, Netherclaw patted his shoulder and comforted him. "Don't you worry. Fallen Angels and Violent Army Clan won't be this timid for long. Their current attitude would damage their morale rapidly—so they won't be able to get more recruits and become stronger like this. Just keep what you're doing with Raziel and Eight Gods. Taunt them whenever you can, but don't attack them. Not yet…"

"Yes sir!"

Dark Dragon immediately complied. He had been suppressing his grudge against Qin Ruo all these while even if it was just allowing him to taunt his clan, Dark Dragon was more than happy to do it.

Dark Dragon also passed on the message to Raziel and Eight Gods. And it was then when Dark Dragon received a peculiar report or at least it was peculiar to him.

***

About ten minutes ago, several members from the Order of the Eight Gods encountered a team of Violent Army Clan members just outside of Savis Town. As usual, the former hurled insults and taunts to provoke reactions from the latter.

Suddenly, a Tier 5 Aquamancer from Fallen Angels showed up and defeated all of them at one go.

Dark God frowned as he heard this. His mind immediately pictured the Aquamancer being Qin Ruo and smiled, "So, the limpy Fallen Angels had launched an attack? Who's the Aquamancer?"

"Erm…"

Raziel paused momentarily before he continued, "He calls himself Netherspirit's Menace."

Dark Dragon was stunned. He stood there silently for minutes, and then he barked, "His coordinates!"

Dark Dragon's eyes were filled with murderous rage as he barked these two words!